BEDMINSTER — Gov. Chris Christie is bashing the Manhattan borough president's suggestion that a tax be restored for suburbanites who commute to work in New York City.

Christie called the idea "penny-wise and pound-foolish" and said it would hurt New York's economy — not to mention hundreds of thousands of New Jersey residents who work there.

Christie made his comments today at a news conference in Bedminster.

The New York Times reported Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer's officer estimated the tax could generate $725 million a year for regional mass transit. The tax was in place for 33 years before the New York State Legislature eliminated it in 1999.

Under Stringer's proposal, the tax would be levied at the 1999 rate. That was 0.45 percent for most commuters.